A few simple, but fun games and crafts to use at your classroom party, February birthday, or for teachers to use on a rainy/snowy inside recess!

Games:

Valentine's Day Bingo  Make cute cards and use candy hearts as Bingo chips

Musical Chairs            Play "love" songs as the children circle

Who's My Valentine?   A cute quiz of questions for kids on Valentines Day

Blinded by Love     Simple game of blindfold drawing of hearts

Crafts:

 Be Mine Band Aids   A great pass time for teachers, or party organizers

Sweet Text Message    An adorable craft for those text savvy kids!

Candy Rings     Easy craft to take wear home!

Bottle Cap Locket     The girls will love this one!

Each year Ground Hog's Day comes around quite quickly after the holidays at my house.  My second child shares his bithday with "Punxsutawney Phil" and so we seem to always pay attention to whether or not he sees his shadow.  Not knowing much about this day prior to his birth... I came to learn a few facts I thought I would share.  To clarify:

If he sees his shadow, he gets "scared" and returns to his den for six more weeks of winter.

If the day is cloudy and he does not see his shadow, he thinks it is spring.

The history of it goes back centuries, but some of the past fifty years facts may put a smile on your face today.

Over the course of Phil's appearances, Phil has had numerous noteworthy highlights:

During Prohibition Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter on the community if he wasn't allowed a drink.

In 1958 Phil announced that it was a "United States Chucknik," rather than a Soviet Sputnik or Muttnik that became the first man-made satellite to orbit Earth.

In 1981 Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of the American hostages in Iran.

Phil traveled to Washington DC in 1986 to meet with President Reagan. He was joined by Groundhog Club President Jim Means, Al Anthony and Bill Null.

Phil met Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburg in 1987.

In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.

Phil appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in 1995.

In the years following the release of the movie, record crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney!

In 2001, Phil's prediction was shown live on the JumboTron at Times Square in New York City.

For more information,activities, and to see Phil yourself, check out

www.groundhog.org.

In my family, we are split between wanting more weeks of winter or looking for an early spring.  Either way, we enjoy the anticipation of wondering what Phil will see or not see next week!

Each year we all start off with great intentions for "change" in our lives, whether personal or professional, and write up some lofty New Year's resolutions.  Resolution, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is 'an act of answering or solving."  As much as we are all looking for life's answers, I think of life as more of a journey and not a problem to solve.  So with that, I have decided to make a New Year's Revision to my current life, and see how that works! 

Some of the following ideas are for children.... they can apply to home or school.  Take a few minutes around the dinner table (or kitchen counter!) to make some changes at your house!  See if you can "lead " them into creating the ones you think will help at your home best.  That way, it was their idea and they may be more invested in sticking to them.  Post them on the refrigerator, back door, or somewhere you can review easily!

Enjoy the conversations!

Preschool:

                I will help pick up my toys

                I will try new foods my parents share with me

                I will brush my teeth twice each day

Grade School:

                I will drink milk or water instead of fruit juices or colas

                I will share _______ with friends and family

                I will try my best in school, starting with ____________

Tweens and Teens:

                I will drink milk or water instead of fruit juices or colas

                I will increase my exercising by _____________________

                I would like to improve on this in school ___________________

Have any other new ideas?  Post them here and share!

Congratulations to our 2011 contest winner!  Deasy School in Glen Cove, NY!

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Check out this link to see owner Jennifer Thompson interviewed by Robin McCoy!

http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/spotlight-on-mommy-jennifer-thompson-of.html

Does your school hold any special event to send the kids off for the summer?

Post your answer on our Facebook wall for a chance to win your school's supplies!

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Okay, we took our "cake" on the road and the parents in Ohio loved it!  We were asked and begged for it, but alas, we need it for our other road trips to St. Louis (March 22) and Chicago (May 3).  So, the next best thing is the directions to make your own!

Here is the link to the downloads section of our web site to get the step by step directions.  The best part is, if you send us the photo of your cake, we'll send you a coupon code for a future purchase!   Good luck!

http://www.write-stuff.com/downloads.cfm

Look what our design team member Denise created for our upcoming PTO Trade Shows!  See it live in Columbus, OH on March 16, St. Louis, MO on March 22, and in Chicago, IL on May 3.  Sorry White Plains, NY and Atlanta, GA.... it would not fly well!!

I love the holidays,  I love the time with family, the decorations, the "no schedule"? of school and kids activities.

My four children on the other hand have started the Can I have a friend over? routine.  I guess they made it 9 days into the break without asking- I should be happy with that.  I'm not opposed to friends over, I just love the all days in our PJ's, watching movies and being together time. 

This time will fly by, I know.  The break first, and then the time when they are home.  My oldest will take driver's education next year.  When did that happen?  she leaves for college in 3.5 years.  A blink if you think back that amount of time.

So, I'm compromising... friends are coming over tomorrow, movies with me tonight!

How come they have to grow up so fast? 

Don't you get a wonderful feeling from helping others during the holiday season?  Why not get that feeling all year long?  Here are a couple of places that can use your help year around:

** Food Pantry

** Nursing Home

** Animal Shelter

** Local Library, School or Church

Contact one of these locations to see how you can help make a difference in your community!